News

While most of the world eagerly waits for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics to begin tonight, LWSD middle school students are focused on a competition of their own. Inglewood, Evergreen, Finn Hill, Kamiakin and Redmond Middle Schools are competing in the Middle School Winter Olympics throughout February.

Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying of Students

File: JFD

The Lake Washington School District recognizes its responsibility to provide a safe and civil/educational environment that is free from all types of discrimination and harassment, bullying, and intimidation.

Appropriate consequences for students who violate this policy will be specified in the student code of conduct for each building and as set forth in Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying of Students Procedures JFD-R. Any staff member who has been found, after appropriate investigation, to have harassed a student will be subject to disciplinary action and/or discharge, as appropriate pursuant to collective bargaining agreements and state and federal laws.

All students have the right to learn in an environment that is free from harassment intimidation, or bullying. Harassment, intimidation, or bullying means any intentionally written message or image (including those that are electronically transmitted) or verbal or physical act, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, marital status, age, mental or physical disability or other distinguishing characteristics, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, when an act:

Physically harms a student or damages the student’s property.

Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education.

Is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment.

Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.

Nothing in this section requires the affected student to actually possess a characteristic that is a basis for the harassment, intimidation, or bullying. “Other distinguishing characteristics” can include but are not limited to: physical appearance, clothing or other apparel, socioeconomic status, and weight.

This policy is not intended to prohibit expression of religious, philosophical, or political views, provided that the expression does not substantially disrupt the educational environment. Many behaviors that do not rise to the level of harassment, intimidation, or bullying may still be prohibited by other district policies or building, classroom or program rules.

TrainingThis policy is a component of the district’s responsibility to create and maintain a safe, civil, respectful, and inclusive learning community and shall be implemented in conjunction with comprehensive training of students, staff, and volunteers.

Prevention The district will provide students with strategies aimed at preventing harassment, intimidation, and bullying. In its efforts to train students, the district will work in partnership with families, law enforcement, and other community agencies.

Interventions Interventions are designed to remediate the impact on the targeted student(s) and others impacted by the violation, to change the behavior of the perpetrator, and to restore a positive school climate.

The district will consider the frequency of incidents, developmental age of the student, and severity of the conduct in determining intervention strategies. Interventions may include counseling, correcting behavior and discipline, and referral to law enforcement.

Retaliation/False Allegations Retaliation is prohibited and will result in appropriate discipline. It is a violation of this policy to threaten or harm someone for reporting harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

It is also a violation of district policy to knowingly report false allegations of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Any employee who is found to have violated this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment consistent with collective bargaining agreements and state and federal laws. Students or employees will not be disciplined for making a report in good faith. However, persons found to knowingly report or corroborate false allegations will be subject to appropriate discipline.

Compliance Officer The superintendent will appoint a compliance officer as the primary district contact to receive copies of all formal complaints and ensure policy implementation. The name and contact information for the compliance officer will be communicated throughout the district. Any complaint received will be promptly investigated, and the district will take corrective action where appropriate.

The superintendent is authorized to direct the implementation of procedures addressing the elements of this policy. This policy and related procedure/administrative guidelines will be posted and disseminated in each work site and reviewed with employees and students on an annual basis.

Statements about the district's legal role in providing public education and the underlying principles on which the district operates. The policies here provide a setting for all of the school board's other policies.

Policies about the school district management, the administrative structure and school building and department administration. Here, you will find the personnel policies that pertain to one the superintendent. See the Personnel section below for all other personnel policies.

Policies in this section govern non-instructional services and programs, including business management, such as safety, buildings and their management (not construction), transportation and food services.

The personnel policies are divided in three main subdivisions: topics that pertain to all employees; policies that pertain to professional personnel, including administrators, who must hold educational certification by the state to serve in their positions; and policies pertaining to all other personnel.

Policies concerning students are found here: admissions, attendance, rights and responsibilities, conduct, discipline and health and welfare services. Policies pertaining to the curriculum, instruction of students, and extracurricular programs are in the Instruction section.

This section governs the district's relationship with other education agencies: other school districts, regional or service districts, private schools, colleges and universities, educational research organizations and state and national education agencies.

The Lake Washington School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, gender, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Complete policy statement